From tropical trips to getaways on St Patrick's weekend, JOAN SCALEShas the best offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Go tropical in Thailand, Bali and Malaysia: from €766
Tropical Places has eight nights at the Centara Karon Resort (above) in Phuket, Thailand, from €814pps, including flights and taxes. A week in a garden-view room at the five-star Bali Hyatt, room only, costs from €947pps. Head to Penang for some lying
on the beach at Bayview Beach Resort for eight nights from €766pps. Flights are with Malaysia Airlines via London and Kuala Lumpur, with connections from Dublin, Cork and Shannon. Book by March 15th for travel over the next few months. www.tropicalplaces.ie, 01-4331029.
OVERSEAS DEALS
African thrills: from €650
Explore, the adventure travel company, is going back to basics with a new range of budget-style tours. The off-the-beaten-track trips will use public transport and stay in simple hotels and guest houses. Explore southern Morocco and the Atlas Mountains for nine days from £585 (€657). Visit Syria and see Old Damascus and the desert trading post of Palmyra for nine days from £820 (€922), or explore northern India and marvel at the Taj Mahal and Jaipur's forts and palaces from £895 (€1,006) for 10 days. www.explore.co.uk and Maxwells Travel, 01-6795700.
Black Forest: from €695
Be inspired by the scenery of the Black Forest, in Germany, and improve your photographic skills on this one-week course from June 7th. Run by Rhoda Cunningham, a lecturer in photography at NCAD, the course includes trips to a range of locations. The price, from €695pps, includes accommodation for the week, breakfast each day, dinner and lunch on two days and all tuition. 01-2351316, www.photographyholidays germany.com.
Picture Istanbul: from €749
Sharpen your city-snapping photography skills with this tour to Istanbul, led by tutor Dave McKane. At the end of four days you should have done two great dawn and dusk shoots as well as taken some good street scenes. There will also be a number of tutorial sessions. The four-day trip, which starts on May 4th, costs from €749pps, with flights from Dublin. www.primeratours.ie, 01-6311077.
French slopes: from €349
The ski season is coming to an end in the next few weeks, so mop up the final few bargains with a week in France from €349 with Crystal Ski (www.crystalski.ie, 01-4331010) or a week in Italy from €439 with Directski (www.directski.com, 1890-201205).
Sail in Antigua: from €1,100
Learn to sail in the warm waters of the Caribbean on a Sunsail Holiday. Sunway has some offers on March 27th and April 3rd for a week in Antigua, which includes half-board accommodation or full board for children under 13, and all taxes, charges and water sports, from £999pps (about €1,123pps). www.sunway.ie, 01-2886828.
Bargain flights: from €7
Ryanair's March Madness sale continues until Monday, with tickets from €7, including taxes, for travel until May. www.ryanair.com.
HOME DEALS
Sail in Cork: from €245
Learn to sail over St Patrick’s weekend with Glenans Irish Sailing Club, in Baltimore, west Co Cork. Beginners are welcome. The price, which has been cut to €245, includes accommodation and tuition. www.gisc.ie, 01-6611481.
Hotel nights: from €57
Aer Arann says it will make your St Patrick’s Day a great one with hotel offers around the country. Prices in Dublin from €57, Galway and Waterford from €59, Cork from €62, Donegal from €66 and Sligo from €65 per night for two. www.aerarann.com.
Shannon cruises: from €858
Emerald Star reopens for the season on March 12th, just in time to cruise the Shannon for Paddy’s Day. A large Shannon Star cruiser sleeps eight in comfort from €858 for four nights. www.emeraldstar.ie, 071-9627633.
Kerry getaway: from €295
Escape to the Lakes of Killarney for some luxury and hiking. Aghadoe Heights Hotel has two-day packages from March 13th to 17th that include BB on two days and dinner one night, plus a tour of the Gap of Dunloe by bus, boat and on foot, from €295pps. www.aghadoeheights.com, 064-6631766.
Wicklow way: from €464
Wake up in the Wicklow Mountains on Paddy’s Day, having had dinner in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant and a night at the Ritz-Carlton. Overnight for two with dinner, breakfast and entertainment on March 16th is €464 per couple. 01-2748888, www.ritzcarlton. com/powerscourt.
West weekend: from €180
Craic and ceoil are on the menu at the Sin Sceil Eile bar at the Connemara Coast Hotel. Two nights' BB, with dinner one night, is €180pps. 091-592108, www.connemaracoast.ie.
Clare yoga: from €335
East Clare Yoga Centre is offering a mixed-ability weekend Iyengar yoga course with guest teacher Judith Richards. The cost of €335 includes eight hours of tuition, accommodation, rail or airport pickup and meals. 061-640923, www.eastclareyoga.com.
Please bear in mind that all offers are subject to availability